'Our England is a garden that is full of stately views, Of borders, bed and shrubberies and lawns and avenues, With statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by, But the Glory of The Garden lies in more than meets the eye.' Rudyard Kipling       Welcome to our home. The Grove at Great Saling is a beautiful Georgian House set in it's own historic parkland in North Essex. It remains a family home at the heart of a diversified estate which has been cared for by successive generations.  The prinicipal house was built in the 1754 by John Yeldham, who owned extensive lands and was heavily involved with the management of Guys Hospital in London. The surrounding parkland was landscaped between 1790-1791 by Humphry Repton. Born in 1752, Repton succeeded Capability Brown to become one of England's pre-eminent landscape designers, who was responsible for re-designing many great English country estates.  Repton was credited with coining the term 'landscape garden' to describe the natural style of gardening which he felt required 'the united powers of the landscape painter and the practical gardener'. His 'Red Books' containing 'before' and 'after' artist impressions, leaving no detail without consideration. He would divide the landscaped area  into sections that included the Character; the Approach; the House; the View From the House and so forth to create maximum effect for the eminence of his clients.  Thus, it is due to Repton that we can now enjoy a proud hertiage of trees such as Wellingtonias, Lebanon and Blue Cedars, Holm and Turkish Oaks, Lime tree avenues, Yew hedges, Ginko and Catalpa trees. The estate was subsquently purchased by Mr. Barlett Goodrich. The Goodrichs were one of the early Virginian families, having already resided in Virigina for over 150 years at the time of the Declaration of Independence. Barlett Goodrich took the unsual step of  returning to England rather than living under 'rebel' rule. He and his family dominated local life by purchasing Saling Hall, for his daughters. Meanwhile his colourful younger brother, Bridger Goodrich fled to Bermunda and led a band of privateers who once blockaded Chesapeake Bay, much to the chagrin of the then President - Thomas Jefferson.   The American connection continued with the arrival of the Second World War. The Estate, like the rest of the country was involved in supporting the war effort. RAF Andrews Field was established on the ouskirts of the village and was the first Class A airfield built by the American forces in the UK. Constructed by the 819th Engineer Battalion (Aviation) of the US Army and was used as a base by the 96th and 322 Bombardment Group and 1st Pathfinder Squadron. The airfield was named in honour of Lieutenant General Frank M Andrews who lived on the estate. Frank M Andrews was a pioneer exponent of air power and was the first head of an autonomous American Air Force and the first air officer to serve on the Army's General Staff.